Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) met with Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan to discuss issues affecting the US-Mexico trade relationship. Specifically, Rep. Larsen raised the issue of market access for fresh Pacific Northwest potatoes in Mexico. Currently, fresh US potatoes are not allowed into Mexico beyond a 26-kilometer border region costing Pacific Northwest potato farmers needed income and jobs. 

"Today, I met with the Mexican Ambassador to advocate for Washington state potato growers and discuss the importance of full market access to the Mexican market for fresh Pacific Northwest potatoes. 

“Allowing U.S. fresh potatoes full market access into Mexico will spur economic growth and create jobs. U.S. potato growers estimate that providing full market access into Mexico could generate $100 million annually for the entire U.S. fresh potato industry.

"Washington state potatoes grown in the Columbia Basin, Yakima Valley, and in my district in Skagit Valley, are known world-wide for being premium quality potatoes. Mexico's continued limitation of Pacific Northwest potatoes into the Mexican market is arbitrary and unnecessary.

"I look forward to working with the Mexican government to remove this limitation to Pacific Northwest potato exports that would create jobs, and move the US-Mexico trading relationship forward,” said Rep. Larsen. 

 “Unfortunately, Mexico has not fully implemented the provisions of the 2003 agreement and the Mexican domestic potato industry has continually blocked reasonable trade negotiations since the signing of this trade pact.  The lack of forward movement on this issue has been exasperating for our Washington State potato growers who have seen this agreement decay. Currently 20 percent of all US fresh potato exports to Mexico originate from Washington State,” said Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission.

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